The pressure of the cost of medicines for Scotland’s NHS is to be investigated by a Scottish Parliament Committee.
The Health and Sport Committee’s latest inquiry is seeking to find out how medicine usage can be improved and waste reduced. Estimates suggest anywhere from 15% to 50% of prescriptions go to waste.
The inquiry is looking into all aspects of the supply and demand for medicines in Scotland’s NHS including:
• Purchasing (both procurement and medicine price regulation)
• Prescribing (who is licensed to write prescriptions)
• Dispensing (whether through a hospital, a pharmacy or a surgery)
• Consumption (looking at the effectiveness of prescriptions and any wastage issues).
Lewis Macdonald MSP, Convener of the Health and Sport Committee, said: “A recurring theme in our scrutiny of Health Boards is controlling the medicines budget and it is essential we understand all the pressures that they face.
“We need to ensure that patients are receiving the most clinically and cost-effective medicines possible while ensuring medicines wastage is reduced to a minimum
“This is a vital inquiry and the Committee look forward to seeking solutions to help future proof Scotland’s NHS so that any medicines required are available and acquired at a fair price that benefits all.”
The inquiry will look to find ways in which the current system could be made more effective and efficient, including through the use of technology.
You can contact the Committee with your views here: www.parliament.scot/medicines-inquiry
The inquiry’s call for views is open until 22nd November.
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